340 COMPOSITE. Aster. 



9. Aster sagittifolius, Willd. Arrow-leaved Aster. 



Stem strict, smooth, thyrsoid-racemose above , the branches erect and somewhat rigid j 

 leaves ovate-lanceolate, attenuate-acuminate, slightly ciliale ; radical and lower cauline ovate- 

 oblong, cordate at the base, on slender narrowly winged smoothish petioles ; the uppermost 

 lanceolate or nearly linear, acuminate at each end, sessile, often entire ; heads numerous, in 

 strict dense compound racemes, on very short peduncles ; scales of the cylindraceous involucre 

 linear-subulate, appressed at the base, rather loose below. — Willd. sp. 3. p. 2035?; Nees, 

 Ast. p. 56?; Hook.fl. Bor -Am. 2. p. 9 ; Torr. ^ Gr. fl. N. Am. 2. p. 121. A. paniculatus, 

 Muhl.; Ell. sk. 2. p. 365; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 464, not of ^z^ ^c. 



Stem 2-4 feet high, with numerous erect branches above , the branchlets pubescent. 

 Radical leaves 2-5 inches long and 1-2 broad, cordate or somewhat sagittate at the base, 

 more or less pubescent, particularly underneath : petioles 2-6 inches in length : stem-leaves 

 narrowed abruptly at the base into a winged petiole ; uppermost gradually diminishing to 

 subulate bracts. Heads rather small, numerous, in crowded racemes. Scales with slender 

 pointed tips. Rays about 12, pale purple or sometimes nearly white : disk yellow, turning 

 brownish purple. 



Dry woods, in rich soil ; Yates county (Dr. Sartwell). August - October. This, although 

 a common species in the Western States, is rare in New- York and New-England. 



♦**• Heads (smaU and mimerons) panuulale-racemose ; scales of the campanulate or hemispherical involucre closely imiriaUed, 

 rigid, the coriaceous and wkitish base appressed, with abrupt mostly squarrose or spreading herbaceous tips : achenia 

 minutely pubescent ; rays •white or pale purple : stems muck branched or diffuse : cauline leaves rigid, sessUe, linear- 

 lanceolate or subulate, entire ; the radical and lowermost oblanceelate or spatukUe, sotnelimes serrate, 



10. Aster ericoides, Linn. Heath-like Aster. 



Smooth or slightly hairy, racemose-compound ; peduncles mostly unilateral on the virgate 

 spreading branches ; leaves rather rigid ; the radical and lowest cauline oblanceolate or oblong- 

 spatulate, tapering into a short margined petiole, often serrate , the others linear-lanceolate 

 and linear-subulate ; scales of the involucre broadest at the base, with a small acute or abruptly 

 acuminate tip, the exterior ones subulate. — Linn. sp. 2. p. 875; Willd. sp. 3. p. 2027; 

 Pursh, fl. 2. p. 546 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 348, not of Lam. ^ Michx ; Torr. ^ Gr. fl. N. Am. 2. 

 p. 123, A. ericoides ^- glabelliis, Nees, Ast. p. 107 ; DC. prodr. 5. p. 242. A. sparsiflorus, 

 Michx. fl. 2. p. 242 ; Willd enum 2. p. 880 (in part), not of Pursh. A. tenuifolius, Willd. 

 sp. 3. p. 2026 (excl. syn.); Nutt. gen. 2. p. 155 ; Darlingt fl. Cest. p. 467. A. tenuifolius 

 and ericoides, Muhl. rat. p. 77, A. dumosus, Hoff. ; Willd. enum. 2. p. 880. 



Stem 1-3 feet high, much branched often from the base, and resembling a small bush ; 

 the stem and branches rigid and brittle. Leaves very numerous ; radical and lower cauline 

 ones 2-4 inches long, and often half an inch or more in breadth ; those of the branches and 

 branchlets gradually becoming very small and narrow, with a subulate point. Heads 3-4 

 lines in diameter, solitary on the small leafy branchlets or pedicels, which are mostly arranged 



